John Gormley

Statement by Green Party Chairman John Gormley TD

“Michael McDowell’s comments earlier today on Bertie Ahern’s financial affairs provide yet another example of the PD leader’s penchant for political posturing. Only a number of days ago he stated that he was happy with Ahern’s leadership, and that the Taoiseach had fully briefed him last Autumn.

“Many people will recall McDowell’s vacillations during that period. People will also recall that the PD Leader only supported the Taoiseach when it became clear there was a certain amount of public sympathy for him.

“Now that the public and PD voters in particular have expressed concern on the doorsteps about Mr Ahern’s peculiar financial arrangements, Michael McDowell is back to his old trick of pretending to hold the Taoiseach to account.

“For the last five years the PD ‘enforcer’ has acted like the Tammy Wynette of Irish politics, standing by his man. The threat of a last-minute divorce won’t fool anyone,” concluded Deputy Gormley.

Statement by Green Party Chairman John Gormley TD:

“It now appears that Tánaiste Michael McDowell has pulled back from his headline grabbing statement in relation to the Poolbeg incinerator. Yesterday Mr. McDowell was quite emphatic when he said that the PDs would not agree in Government to finance the Poolbeg incinerator, effectively making this a pre-condition for Government.

“Today at a press conference he stated that the incinerator would have to be consistent with Government policy. As usual, this clarification will not get the same publicity as his previous statement. The fact is that Dick Roche has agreed that the Poolbeg plant is consistent with Government policy and Michael McDowell has had ample opportunity to stop this incinerator while sitting at the cabinet table.

“The Green Party put down a private members’ bill on the issue and the PDs voted it down. Michael McDowell at the last election implied that stopping the incinerator was a condition for Government. He’s trying to perform the same trick again. On this occasion, the voters in Dublin South East have wised up to his posturing.”

– Services for the mentally ill shameful, says Gormley

Statement by Green Party Health spokesperson John Gormley TD:

“The Mental Health Commission’s report on the Central Mental Hospital in Dublin is a shocking indictment of this Government’s indifference to mental illness. It confirms that some of the most vulnerable people in our society have been shunted into an institution and forgotten about.

“The report’s findings contrast sharply with the glossy, Celtic Tiger image that the Government tries to portray of this country in the run up to the election. The sad fact is that services for the mentally ill are shameful. While some wealthy people are doing well, there are many sections of our society who continue to suffer.

“The Government cannot shirk its responsibilities on this issue. I sincerely hope that the report’s recommendations will be fully and quickly implemented. I will ask that the Dáil debates this report when it resumes,” concluded Deputy Gormley.

Statement by John Gormley TD, Green Party Chairman and spokesperson on foreign affairs

“The US air strikes in Somalia against rebels in a civil war confirm that the Bush administration has learnt nothing from the Iraq debacle. These air strikes - in which a four-year-old was killed - are a breach of international law and a clear indication that Mr. Bush is still fully committed to his own doctrine of pre-emption.

“His so-called ‘War on Terror’ has been entirely counterproductive and sown the seeds of further terrorism for generations to come. It will widen the gap between Islam and the West and destabilise this part of Africa in the same way that the entire Middle East has been destabilised by the occupation of Iraq.

“Also, just as in Iraq, the politics of oil is at play here with the US trying to safeguard access to the Red Sea for its oil tankers. I call on our Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern to condemn this attack. It seems that the Minister Ahern is completely in thrall to the Bush Administration and that any semblance of an independent Irish foreign policy is gone.”

– Cutbacks and closures leading to illegal dumping

Statement by Green Party Chairman and TD for Dublin South East John Gormley:

“The Christmas tree recycling service for Dublin South East has been very disappointing this year and I have received quite a number of complaints from my constituents. Last year residents could simply tag their Christmas tree and leave it out for collection, but this year this service has been quietly dropped. The number of depots where Christmas trees can be brought for recycling has also been cut dramatically. In Dublin South East only one location – Gulistan Terrace in Rathmines – is accepting Christmas trees. The result is that many people are dumping their trees. It makes very little environmental sense to expect people to get in their cars and all travel from all corners of the constituency to one recycling centre.

“Sadly, the above scenario is indicative of overall cutbacks in the recycling services in Dublin South East and elsewhere under the Fianna Fáil and PD Government. We have witnessed the closure of the bring centre on Londonbridge Road, the curtailment of services at the Rathgar bring centre, and the Ringsend recycling centre is closed for most of Saturday and Sunday – precisely when busy people have the time to recycle.

“The Green Party in Government will significantly improve recycling services not just in Dublin South East but throughout Dublin and the country,” concluded Deputy Gormley.

– McDowell and Ahern’s faith in ‘assurances’ from US Govt is either disingenuous or naive

Statement by Green Party Foreign affairs spokesperson John Gormley TD: “Justice Minister Michael McDowell said in the Dáil today that he accepts assurances from the US that there were no prisoners on board any of the 147 CIA-operated flights that have landed in Irish airports in recent years.

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Statement by Green Party Health spokesperson and TD for Dublin South East John Gormley:

“Professor Des O’Neill’s report on the Leas Cross nursing home in north Dublin is distressing reading. It is a damning indictment of the Fianna Fáil/PD position on for-profit care and it confirms, unfortunately, much of what I have said in the Dáil about the pitiful state of nursing homes in Ireland. I have made these statements on information given to me by concerned health workers. Sub-standard care of our elderly is much more prevalent than Mary Harney would like us to believe. (more…)

Statement by Green Party Chairman and TD for Dublin South East John Gormley:

“The PD plan for a Manhattan-style skyline on the Poolbeg Peninsula is unrealistic. It ignores a number of crucial factors. (more…)

Statement by Green Party Foreign Affairs spokesperson John Gormley TD:

“The study published yesterday by John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, which shows that the death toll in Iraqsince the US invasion has reached over 655,000, is truly shocking and shows once again that this war has been one of the biggest disasters in the history of US foreign policy. The war, which was supposed to stop terrorism, has sown the seeds for further terrorism for many generations to come.

“Most Iraqis now want the US to leave the country. American troops are viewed as an army of occupation, and there can never be peace in the country as long as they remain.

“The Irish government must use every available opportunity to urge the US government to withdraw their forces from Iraq. By allowing Shannon to be used, the Irish Government is assisting America in its counterproductive war.”

Statement by John Gormley TD, Green Party Chairman

“It is welcome that, at long last, the debate on Bertiegate is now beginning to address the inadequacy of Irish ethics legislation. However, the legislative changes being sought by the Tánaiste amount to nothing more than window dressing. It confirms that his discussions with the Taoiseach are really focusing on how best they can ’spin’ their way out of this crisis. (more…)